RE your letter from Age Concern Teesside about older people and winter warmth (HAS, Jan 16).

Keeping warm and well is also a big issue to disabled, young and lowpaid workers up and down the country.

There is very little help for these people, but pensioners get at least £200 every winter and many are on special schemes to pay a set amount every week or monthly.

Why can't disabled, young and low-paid workers get some help every winter?

I can't work as I am disabled after an accident at work. I suffer from arthritis in most of my joints and need heat to keep warm, but we just can't afford to use it until the evening time.

We had changed energy company again but, like the rest, its prices have gone up as well.

Just for once help should be made available to disabled, young, and low-paid workers. I am sick of hearing about pensioners every winter - the rest of us worry about our bills, too, but we don't have the £200 to help us.

Name supplied, Co Durham.

I FEEL I must express my disgust at the recent fuel cost rises. I am in my 64th year and unable to work due to medical condition involving my spine.

I have worked all my life and to get benefits is, to me, embarrassing.

But with all the increases in fuel, food and living costs, when are they going to look into the rise that must be due to people like myself?

I'm not a cheat and if I could work I would be first to get out there, but it's not as easy as some say.

Brian Groves, Darlington.